Multiple control valve



April 8, 1952 R, STEVENSON 2,592,353

l MULTIPLE CONTROL VALVE Filed June 21, 1944 2 SHEETSr-SHEET 2 /////.f aus:

' INVENToR j? 0b e 1w( @fave/2 sof@ ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 8, 1952 l MULTIPLE CONTROL vALvE Robert Stevenson,

Barrington, R. I., assignor to Merit Engineering, Inc., a corporation of Rhode Island Application June 21, 1944, serial No. 541,448

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for controlling a fluid conduit of the type which may be used for directing fluid into either of the selected ends of a cylinder for moving the piston in the cylinder in one direction or the other.

Heretofore in the use of a control device of this character a considerable amount of manual pressure or mechanical force had to be used in *order to operate the valve, especially if multiple as may occur quickly in air-borne equipment a relief of pressure in a closed chamber may be had. A more specific object of the invention is to reduce the area upon which liquid pressure may press so that the eiect of the liquid pressure contacting the valve will be at a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve for controlling the inlet which will be balanced when in closed position so that there vis no pressure pressing in a direction to open the valve or to hold it closed.

Another object of this invention is to so arrange the moving parts that they will -be simple vto manufacture and assemble.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction,- as will be more fully described and .N particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a sectional view through my improved 'A device on line I-I of Fig. 5;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof; i

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on substantially line Fig. 4 is a sectional view on substantially line 4-,4 0f Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on substantially line 5- -5 of Fig. l; A Fig 6..is a sectional View on substantially line 1 -6 of Figf3;

7 is adiagrammatic view illustrating schenjlatically Vthe arrangement between the valves of the yunits herein described and the connection trema yiiuid reservoir to a pump through the sion of the liquid due to change in pressures such control unit to a cylinder having a piston therein and return to the fluid reservoir. l A

The 'general plan of the operation of this invention is best explained with referenceto Fig. 'I wherein III designates a fluid reservoir and II a gear pump for drawing fluid from the reservoir to supply it to a cylinder I2 having a piston I3 therein. The 'uid may be directed to the end I4 of the cylinder to move the piston to the left or directed to the end I5 of the cylinder to force the piston I3 to the right. In the event that fluid is forced in at I4 to move the piston to the left the valves are so arranged that fluid will be permitted to flow from the end I5 back to the supply reservoir. This result is accomplished by provision of chambers I6 and I'I to which fluid irom the pump may be supplied, while from these chambers return conduits I8 and I9 extend back to the reservoir. The supply to the chambers I6 and I1 is controlled by valves 20 and 2I while the return from the chambers is controlled by the valves 22 and 2 3. The conduits 24 and 25 are always open from the chambers I6 and `Il to the cylinder ends'A I4 and I5. The valves 20 and 2| are arranged to operate oppositely, when one opens the other closes. Likewise the valves 22 and 23 are arranged to operate oppositely so that when one opens the other closes. Each pair of valves 20, 22 and 2|., 23 operate oppositely 'so that when one opens the other closes.. All four of the valves operate simultaneously from the same control means. By this arrangement when the valve 20 opens liquid enters the chamber I6. thence through conduit 24 to the cylinder I2 at the end I4 to move the piston to the left. At the same time liquid on the opposite side-ot the piston is forced outwardly from the cylinder at the end I5 through the conduit 25 while the valve 23 opens so that the liquid may be forced back to the supply tank or reservoir. If itis desired to move the piston in the opposite direction the valve 2D is closed and 22 opened while valve 2I is opened and 23 is closed. In this case uid will be forced from the chamber I1 through the conduit 25 to the end I5 of the cylinder to move the piston to thev right which will `force liquid out of the end I4 through the conduit 24 through the chamber I6 and thence through the open valve 22 back to the reservoir.

The device for housing these various valves comprises a body designated generally 26 (Fig. 1)

`which is formed from a block 21 having aplurality of cylindrical bores therein designated 2.9, 30, 3|, 32 (see Fig. 5)'. l The axes of these bores are parallel and all are in the same plane. At

the lower end of the block these bores all connect with a common bore 33 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A conduit 36 provides a lead out port from the chamber 34 connecting bores 29 and 30 which would be equivalent to chamber I6 while a conduit 31 provides a lead out port from the chamber 35 connecting bores 3| and 32 which would be equivalent to chamber |1. An intake port 38 extends inwardly from the body and intersects the bores 30 and 3| so as to communicate therewith. A conduit 39 (see Figs. 3 and 4) extends inwardly from the same face of the body of the block so as to connect with the bore 33.

The assemblies in the bores 29 and 32 are identical and each comprises a bushing 45 which rests upon a shoulder 46 at the lower end of the bore. Within this sleeve there is a valve or plunger 41 which would correspond to the valves 22 or 23 and which is provided with radial fins 48. four in number. (see Fig. 6), at a point :adjacent its lower lend and also at a point spaced therefrom for slidingly engaging the upper portion of thefbore or sleeve 45. At a point adjacent the upper end of the sleeve 45 this plunger is enlarged to provide a head 49 which engages vthe ledge of the upper end of the sleeve so as to provide a tight joint therewith, the contacting vsurfaces being ground for this purpose. Within -the tubular plunger there projects a stem 'which is of a size to slidingly t the inner bore of the plunger and guide the same in its movemerit. This stem 50 is enlarged as at 5| for guiding the spring` 52 which acts between the shoulder 53 on the stem and the head 49 of the plunger to force the plunger downwardly i`n the bore of thebushing. This stem is suspended in 'position from a cover 54 which forms apart of a casing or body by means of a bolt 55 which which passes through this cover 54 'and into the stem 50. A soft packing 56 serves to-seal 'the stem tothe cover.

The upper end of this plunger is, of course,

located in the chamber 34 and when the head .49' is raised from its seat a passage exists from this chamber 34 between the plunger and the bushings uo connect with the chamber or passage 33.

The stem 50-is provided with a lateral conduit 51.Fig. l, in which there extends axially of the 'stem a bore -58 connecting with a larger bore .59 while a lateral bore `titl in the stem may also register with a lateral bore 6| in the plunger when seated so that communication is established bya conduit from the chamber 34 through the vstem to the space between the plunger and the bushing and thence to the bore 33. This communication is controlled by a ball valve 62 which; is forced to a seat on the shoulders between the bores 58 yand 59 by a plunger 63 forced .by means of a spring 64 to effect this action.

Thelopposite end of the spring has an abutment -which may. be threaded into the :lower end 65 of the bore 65 of the stem, such abutment being .ftlesignated 61. In this manner should the pressure inthe chamber 34 become too great .the

jrelief valve v62 which is set to open at a point higher than 'normal operating conditions of -thedevice would ope'n to permit leading from this cylinder of such fluid as would be necessary fito reduce the pressure to a compatible amount.

The lower end of the plunger is closed by a plug 6E having a knob 69 to be engaged by a cam for actuating the plunger.

By providing a stem entering the central part surface is presented between the minimum outer diameter of the plunger and the minimum inner diameter thereof which will materially reduce pressure which may be exerted upon the plunger.

The bores 30 and 3| are occupied by identical assemblies, shown more particularly in Fig. 4. In each bore 30 and 3| there is provided a sleeve or bushing 10, the upper edge of which 1| provides a valve seat. Within this bushing there is located a plunger 12 which is equivalent to the valves 20, or 2| which is reduced intermediate its ends as at 13 to provide a shoulder 14 at one end of the reduced portion while the other end is fashioned into a head 15, tapered to engage the seat 1|. A packing 16 is provided between the lower portion of the plunger and the bushing 10 so as to prevent the escape or passage of liquid between adjacent surfaces of the said lower portion and bushing 10. The extreme upper end of the plunger is reduced in diameter to provide a guide portion 11 for a spring 18 which a projection 82 thereon to be engaged by a cam for operating the same.

The intake 38 communicates with the reduced portion of this plunger by an opening 83 in the bushing 10 while the valve seat 1| when closed prevents the intake from supplying the chamber 34 or 35 as the case may be.

The ends of the bore 33 are closed by covers SB and 81 which provides bearings for the stub shaft 88 on which the shaft 89 is rotatably mounted at one end, While it is rotatably mounted in the bearing 90 in the closure 81 at the other end. Upon this shaft there is provided cams 9|, 92, 93, and 94 to engage the projections 69 and 82 of the plugs at the lower end of each of the valves. These cams are so arranged that when the shaft is rotated by means of handle the valve in bores 30 and 32 will be raised together while the valves in the bores 29 and 3| Will be lowered together and vice versa. In this way as the chamber 34 is opened to supply the cylinder on one side, the valve in the bore 3| is closed while the valve to the exhaust port and bore 33 in the bore 32 is opened. thus permitting fluid which is forced from the cylinder by movement of the piston in one direction to be returned to the supply through the exhaust from the cylinder 35.

I claim:

1. In a valve, a body having a pair of spaced chambers, an inlet port, separate conduits opening in each of said chambers for connecting said inlet port to each of said chambers, a valve for controlling each conduit, an exhaust port, a second set of separate conduits opening in each of said chambers for connecting said exhaust port to each of said chambers, -a second valve having a reduced annular area exposed to the liquid pressure in said chambers for controlling each of said second set of conduits and having a passage therethrough providing a conduit from said chamber to said exhaust port when said secondvalve is in the closed position, resilient means for each valve urging said valve to closed position, and manual means to effect opening of the inlet port to one chamber and closure of the exhaust port therefrom and simultaneously effecting an opposite movement of the inlet 4and exhaust valves of the conduits of the other chamber and valve means for controlling said passages operable by an excess pressure of the liquid in said chambers when said second valve is in the closed position.

2. In a Valve, a body having a pair of spaced chambers, an inlet port, separate conduits connecting said inlet port to each of said chambers, a valve for controlling each conduit, an exhaust port, a second set of separate conduits connecting said exhaust port to each of said chambers, a second valve having a reduced annular area exposed to the liquid pressure in said chambers for controlling each of said second set of conduits and having a passage therethrough providing a conduit from said chamber to said exhaust port when said second Valve is in the closed position, resilient means for each valve urging said valve to closed position, and cam means to effect opening of the inlet port to one chamber and closure of the exhaust port therefrom and simultaneously effecting an opposite movement of the inlet and exhaust valves of the conduits of the other chamber and valve means for controlling said passages operable by an excess pressure of the liquid in said chambers when said second valve is in the closed position.

3. In a valve, a body having a pair of spaced chambers, an inlet port, separate conduits connecting said inlet port to each of said chambers, a valve for controlling each conduit, an exhaust port, a second set of separate conduits connecting said exhaust port to each or" said chambers, a second valve having a reduced annular area exposed to the liquid pressure in said chambers for controlling each of said second set of conduits and having a Vpassage therethrough providing a conduit from said chamber to said exhaust port when said second valve is in the closed position, resilient means for ecah valve urging said valve to closed position, a shaft extending beneath all of said valves, cams on said shaft one located beneath each valve for simultaneously controlling said valves and valve means for controlling said passages operable by an excess pressure of the liquid in said chambers When said second valve is in the closed position.

4. In a valve, a body having a pair of spaced chambers, an inlet port, separate conduits connecting said inlet port to each of said chambers, a valve having liquid pressure equalizing means for controlling eachv conduit, an exhaust port, al

second set of separate conduits connecting said exhaust port to each of said chambers, a second valve having a reduced annular area exposed to the liquid pressure in said chambers for controlling each of said second set of conduits and having a passage therethrough providing a conduit from said chamber to said exhaust port when said second valve is in the closed position, resilient means for each valve urging said valve to closed position, and manual means to effect opening of the inlet port to one chamber and closure of the exhaust port therefrom and simultaneously eieoting an opposite movement of the inlet and exhaust valves of the conduits of the other chamber and valve means for controlling said passages operable by an excess pressure of the liquid in said chambers When said second valve is in the closed position.

5. In a valve a body having a pair of spaced chambers, an inlet port, separate conduits connecting said inlet port to each of said chambers, a valve having liquid pressure equalizing means for controlling each conduit, an exhaust port, a second set of separate conduits connecting said exhaust port to cach oi said chambers, a second valve having a reduced annular area exposed to the liquid pressure in said chambers for controlling each of said second set of oonduits and having a passage therethrough providing a conduit from said chamber to said exhaust port when said second valve isgin the closed position, resilient means for each valve urging said valve to closed position, a shaft extending beneath all oi' said valves, cams on said shaft one located beneath each valve for simultaneously controlling said Valves and valve means for controlling said passages operable by an excess pressure of the liquid in said chambers when said second valve is in the closed position.

ROBERT STEVENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,583,834 Humphrey May 11, 19213 1,775,856 Hauser' Sept. 16, 1930 2,275,963 Herman Mar. l0, 1942 2,294,702 Van Der Werff Sept. 1, 1942 2,338,101 Ellinwood Jan. 4, 1944 2,362,945 Stephens Nov. 14, 1944 2,363,481 Campbell Nov. 28, 1944 2,436,425 Fioretta Feb. 24, 1948- 

